1976 22' Starcraft Islander Rebuild

[Teamster]

Sweet,...................

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

What a tease...........

 

[pckeen]

I think this may be the most anticipated splash on iboats.

 

[Watermann]

I think this may be the most anticipated splash on iboats.

Maybe we should rename it splash of the decade for this one :lol:

 

[jasoutside]

Well fellas, this boat has been on sea trial. It's awesome, but it has failed the trial. I was on Mullett Lake yesterday and Lake Huron this morning. Everything is fantastic save one major issue......

When I give it throttle it wants to stall right out. It idles great, runs smooth through about 1500 RPM, but at about 2000 it just poops out.

I've done everything I can before the fuel pump side and am confident it's nothing there. This morning I ran direct from a fuel can and it still wants to stall out.

My best guess is that I may have a bad fuel pump so that's the direction I'm headed unless you guys have better ideas.

RATS!

 

[Patfromny]

The fuel filter should be full or close to it during operation. If it is and the engine stalls it might be a carb issue. Sorry don't remember if it is carbed or injected. If the filter is full at all times your pump is supplying fuel. Could be too much if you have an electric pump which means a regulator is in order but I would try watching the filter before you invest in a pump. Could also be the float level isn't right if carbed. There is enough fuel to idle but once under load the bowl empties. Check fuel lines and filter flow as well. Start with the obvious and cheapest. If injected, check to see if the fuel pressure in the line is to factory specs. Might even check your distributer advance. Make sure the weights are opening. Could be an ignition problem. Make sure you are getting 12 volts to the distributor. I know with older cars they had a resistor wire for the ignition when running points systems and that only supplied 8 volts. If you have electronic ignition you need 12. Just run a 14 ga. Wire from your ignition fuse on the fuse box to the dist. If you aren't getting 12 volts. That ought to give you a few things to check today.

How's the knee? I hope you are getting around ok by now. Congrats on the splash bud. Very happy for you and your family. Long time coming.

 

[Patfromny]

If you run the new wire, make sure it is off the ignition port of the fuse box. If not, it won't turn off with the key. Make sure the connection is made on the none supply side, sorry about the lack of technical jargon. What I mean is splice the new wire in after the fuse so it is fuse protected.

 

[Patfromny]

If carbed, might also check the choke postion. If the choke is closed a bit, it could be flooding the motor. Remeber that engines need fuel, air, and spark. That's it. Forget cooling for this diagnosis. You'll feel the heat if it isn't getting coolant or your gauge will tell that tale. Just keep those three in your head while trouble shooting. It is more than likely one of the three.

 

[Watermann]

What model carb and does it have a filter that screws into it at the fuel inlet?

Sounds like fuel starvation as you progress from the idle circuit to the high speed jets, could be plugged jets, could be needle valve or could be accelerator pump is adjusted wrong or diaphragm is ruptured.

 

[GA_Boater]

Hi, Jasinsideawetboat. LOL

Bummer. :blue:


What happens if you slowly advance the throttle, same thing? Have you checked timing and is the timing advancing?

 

[Pmccraney]

I've come out of hiding to see this splash. Boat looks great, Jas! I know you will get the fuel delivery/throttle issue figured out soon.

 

[dozerII]

Glad to hear you got her out on the water, but you know the rules no pictures it didn't happen After spending 30 minutes looking back through the 405 pages I believe you have a Rochester 4 barrel on the 4.3. I fought with the one on my SS201 and just lost another battle with the one on my Rat Rod. If the barb has sat for any length of time with gas with ethanol in it the carb will have very bad corrosion in some of the ports that carb cleaner won't remove. In both cases I ended up purchasing an Edelbrock replacement in your case it's a 1409.

 

[jasoutside]

The fuel filter should be full or close to it during operation.

Howdy! Yup, I actually bypassed everything and rand the engine directly off of a fuel can and the engine ran the same. So, I know I can rule out fuel lines, filters, tanks, bad gas all that stuff.

What model carb and does it have a filter that screws into it at the fuel inlet?

It's got the 2 barrel and I dunno:noidea:

What happens if you slowly advance the throttle, same thing?

Yup, same thing happens, at 2K it kinda wants to stall out.

I've come out of hiding to see this splash. Boat looks great, Jas! I know you will get the fuel delivery/throttle issue figured out soon.

Great to see ya PMC!

Glad to hear you got her out on the water, but you know the rules no pictures it didn't happen After spending 30 minutes looking back through the 405 pages I believe you have a Rochester 4 barrel on the 4.3. I fought with the one on my SS201 and just lost another battle with the one on my Rat Rod. If the barb has sat for any length of time with gas with ethanol in it the carb will have very bad corrosion in some of the ports that carb cleaner won't remove. In both cases I ended up purchasing an Edelbrock replacement in your case it's a 1409.

Alrighty, I'll post up a few photos here in a sec:eagerness:

Actually, I've got the 2 barrel carb on this one. So, new carb ya think??

 

[dozerII]

Howdy! Yup, I actually bypassed everything and rand the engine directly off of a fuel can and the engine ran the same. So, I know I can rule out fuel lines, filters, tanks, bad gas all that stuff.



It's got the 2 barrel and I dunno:noidea:



Yup, same thing happens, at 2K it kinda wants to stall out.




Great to see ya PMC!



Alrighty, I'll post up a few photos here in a sec:eagerness:

Actually, I've got the 2 barrel carb on this one. So, new carb ya think??

Depends how bad it is, gas with ethanol in it is really bad for carbs that sit. In one of my Quadra jet 4 barrels it ate the entire seat out around the steel ball in the accelerator pump base, as well as through the bottom casting.

 

[jasoutside]

All right guys so we just got back from the sea trial weekend up on the big lake. Man it's beautiful up there!

Sorry guys, I only took a few shots as my mind was really wrapped around trying to figure out what the heck is going on with this engine. But, here's a couple I took.

Wow, what a huge moment this is right here guys!!!

Here she is floating at the Hammond Bay Refuge Harbor on Lake Huron just a few miles from my place. Beautiful area up there, no people, no traffic, no noise, lots of water and lots of beautiful!

Pulling out of the harbor...

I gotta tell ya, I was pretty emotional floating in this boat, it's been a looooooong time coming!

 

[jasoutside]

Once out of the harbor, lil bit of throttle and she wants to stall out at about 2K RPM. Check it out...

I don't know if you can see the tach needle bouncing around so well there but it just kinda sputters out at the 2K range.

And yup, those are my brand new SEI outdrive break in instructions stuck into my steering wheel just so I remember eh.

 

[jasoutside]

So one idea that I just thought of last night (that kept me up all night) was the distributor cap, rotor and plug wires.

Here's why...

1. I never replaced any of that stuff and I really should have. Sort of a routine maint item you know.

2. As I started it up she squeeled. What the heck was that? Loose belt or what? Maybe distb/rotor?

3. As it was idling at the dock yesterday my ear just barely picked up a bit of a miss in the engine. I shrugged it off.

4. No doubt that "miss" might be showing up pretty significantly as I give it throttle.

So yah, I'm just wondering if a new cap, rotor, wires might be the issue here? Anyway, I ordered a set and it'll be here Thursday, so, we will give that a shot.

 

[jasoutside]

Depends how bad it is, gas with ethanol in it is really bad for carbs that sit. In one of my Quadra jet 4 barrels it ate the entire seat out around the steel ball in the accelerator pump base, as well as through the bottom casting.

Hmmmm..... All right, I'll chew on that, try some less expensive fixes first then work my way up.

I know that I ran out the gas prior to the long install process so maybe I ducked that issue.

We will see.....

 

[scoutabout]

Wow -- congrats! congrats! Jas. I was just wondering what you were up to since it had been awhile since I perused the thread. So well deserved! The sweet taste of the victory splash! :watermelon:

Anyhoo...on to the troubleshooting. As I've heard so many times before...it's going to be just one of three problems....fuel, air, or fire...

I'd definitely replace old ignition parts just cuz and check the timing (not electronic is it?). And how about water in the fuel. Can't remember...you got a water-separating fuel filter? and such like that there. I'm sure finer fettlers than we will be along...


EDIT - OK, so obviously I need to head straight for the second last page next time....you guys are obviously all over this....

(FWIW - my 3.0 Merc I/O I had ten years ago was behaving in a very similar way and driving me nuts to diagnose. Turned out to be a cracked coil...right at the base of the high tension lead that you couldn't see unless you slid the boot up just a wee bit...)

 

[dozerII]

Hey Jason, check to see if you are getting a good solid spray of fuel from the accelerator pump when you go to full throttle, if not it will fall on it's face and possibly stall. This would be a good indicator the carb is dirty and either needs a kit or replacing. Easy way is to disconnect the linkage at the carb so you can stroke it and look down the bore at the same time.